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🇧🇩 Bangladesh /Conflict & Security

10 stranded in border no-man's land after India push-in attempt blocked by Bangladesh

From Daily Star · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Ten people, including women and children, are stranded in no-man's land between Bangladesh and India.
  • They were allegedly blocked from entering Bangladesh by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) after an attempted push-in by India's Border Security Force (BSF).
  • Despite multiple flag meetings between border forces, the situation remains unresolved, leaving the group without basic facilities.

A group of ten people, including women and children, remains stranded in a precarious no-man's land along the Bangladesh-India border for three days. The situation arose after India's Border Security Force (BSF) allegedly attempted to push the individuals into Bangladesh, an action blocked by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).

Despite two rounds of flag meetings between the BGB and BSF aimed at resolving the issue, no solution has been reached. The stranded individuals are enduring harsh conditions on a narrow embankment, facing scorching heat and recent downpours, with limited access to basic necessities. BGB personnel are stationed on the Bangladesh side, while BSF members are on the Indian side.

We feel sorry for them, especially the children.

— Ansar AliA local resident expressing concern over the condition of the stranded individuals.

According to BGB sources, the BSF attempted to push the group across the Panchagarh border early Friday. The BGB blocked their entry, citing unverified identities and a lack of formal repatriation procedures. The group, consisting of five men, two women, and three children, has been left in limbo in the no-man's land between the two countries.

The condition of the children is heartbreaking. We hope the governments of the two countries will resolve the matter through discussions as soon as possible.

— Rabiul IslamA local resident commenting on the plight of the stranded children.

Locals have expressed concern over the welfare of the stranded individuals, particularly the women and children. "The condition of the children is heartbreaking," said Rabiul Islam, a local resident. Lt Col Md Sirajul Islam, commanding officer of BGB-56 Nilphamari Battalion, confirmed that the BGB requested the BSF to take the individuals back, but the Indian force refused. "We have made it clear that we will not allow them to enter Bangladesh," he stated.

In separate incidents, the BSF reportedly attempted to push another 11 people through the Mashalgaon border in Thakurgaon and five more through the Hili border in Dinajpur, actions also blocked by the BGB.

We have made it clear that we will not allow them to enter Bangladesh.

— Lt Col Md Sirajul IslamCommanding officer of BGB-56 Nilphamari Battalion, stating the BGB's position on the attempted push-in.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Daily Star in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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